Professor Laura Heathfield

Prof Laura Heathfield works in the Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the University of Cape Town, heading up its Biomedical Forensic Science Unit. Her research focuses on post-mortem forensic genetics, particularly the recovery and analysis of DNA from severely degraded human bodies as well as the use of DNA to investigate and resolve cases of unexpected death.

She completed her Honours degree at UCT before moving to Scotland where she finished her MSc in forensic science. She returned to UCT to complete her PhD. She has worked as a researcher in both academia as well as the private sector. She helped set up the undergraduate programmes in forensic science at the University of the Free State. She is also a founding member of the South African Academy of Forensic Science (SAAFS) and an invited member of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death (ISPID) and of the African Forensic Sciences Academy.

Prof Heathfield has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Forensic Science International: Genetics; Lancet Global Health; and the International Journal of Legal Medicine. She has also supervised 85 postgraduate students.

Her work has gained considerable recognition with nominations for four research awards, including finalist for the NSTF-South32 TW Kambule Award for Emerging Researcher.